AFCI Failure

[Mike Lamb]

If an AFCI fails to trip off when the test button is pressed, will it fail in an overload situation?

[Jim Katen]

If an AFCI fails to trip off when the test button is pressed, will it fail in an overload situation?

No one knows. But it doesn't inspire confidence.

[mlparham]

If an AFCI fails to trip off when the test button is pressed, will it fail in an overload situation?

The breaker could be defective or it may not be properly wired. I once found several AFCI breakers in a condo panel that had the the extra white wire clipped.

[John Kogel]

If an AFCI fails to trip off when the test button is pressed, will it fail in an overload situation?

No one knows. But it doesn't inspire confidence.

Thanks, Jim, that was eloquent.

I would not write this in any report but can say it here. "when tested, the AFCI breaker failed to inspire confidence in the inspector ." []

[Garry Sorrells]

If an AFCI fails to trip off when the test button is pressed, will it fail in an overload situation?

No one knows. But it doesn't inspire confidence.

Thanks, Jim, that was eloquent.

I would not write this in any report but can say it here. "when tested, the AFCI breaker failed to inspire confidence in the inspector ." []

Personally I do not care if the AFCI has any confidence in me. I certainly have no confidence in the AFCI.[:-paperba

[Nolan Kienitz]

I've recently found some of the re-called Square D AFCIs still installed. They go back to ~2004.

[Mike Lamb]

Thanks Nolan. It was a Square D panel in a 2006 condo rehab. There were other AFCI's in the panel that tripped when I tested them. I will alert my clients about the recall. They might be from that bad batch.

[Tom Raymond]

From that period they could also be counterfeit.

[Nolan Kienitz]

Mike and others,

Here are some PDFs of the recall.

Download Attachment: CPSC_SqD_AFCI_recall_highlight.pdf

125.67 KB

Download Attachment: SquareD_AFCI_RecallDATA.pdf

175.04 KB